Flamenco concert in Pistol River

Mark Taylor and the Sol Flamenco Dance Company. Submitted

Classical and Flamenco guitarist Mark Taylor is an international recording artist and performer. His combined experience in classical and flamenco music make him a strong and dynamic interpreter of the classical repertoire with an approach to flamenco that is rhythmically vibrant, passionate and true to the essence of the many styles he performs.

Taylor was already a professional classical guitarist when he began traveling to Spain in 1987. He studied flamenco guitar in Granada, Sevilla and Jerez de la Frontera and Madrid. He returned to the United States to form the Aire Flamenco Dance Company & The Mark Taylor Flamenco Quartet.

He has performed as a soloist in Spain and the United States and appears regularly as featured artist with the Sol Flamenco Dance Company and The San Francisco Bay Area’s Potaje ensemble, directed by Chus Alonso.

Liz Bortolotto began her life as a flamenco dancer in 1999. Since then, she has danced professionally with Sol Flamenco, Mark Taylor Flamenco, Flamenco Arts, and Los Cuatro Vientos. Bortolotto trained primarily with Jose Galvan of Seville, Spain and local artists Yaelisa (Emmy-winning choreographer and dancer), Carola Zertuche, and Elaine Marlow. She has also studied with traveling artists such as Antonio Granjeros, Belen Maya, Pastora Galvan and Joaquin Ruiz. She recently returned from Spain, where she studied with world famous Flamenco dance teacher, Manuel Betanzos.

Joelle Goncalves, a performer, teacher, and co-director of dance troupe Sol Flamenco, has performed throughout the West Coast with a variety of flamenco companies including Aire Flamenco, Los Cuatro Vientos, Flamenco Puro, Flamenco Arts, and was a featured soloist in Yaelisa’s “Noche de Amor.”

Goncalves’ attraction to the art of flamenco began over a decade ago while she was earning her degree in art history. It was the combination of passionate singing, fiery dancing and haunting guitar rhythms that completely enthralled her and led her to Seville, Spain, where she began her professional dance training with Maestro Jose Galvan. She has studied with such notable flamenco artists as Joaquin Ruiz, Concha Vargas, Angel Munoz, and Antonio Granjeros. She travels to Spain annually to study with Manuel Betanzos and receives private dance training and coaching with Yaelisa in the U.S.

Tickets are $15.00 and available at Wright’s Custom Framing in Brookings, The Book Dock in Harbor and Gold Beach Books in Gold Beach. Tickets may also be reserved online at www.pistolriver.com/tickets or by calling 541-247-2848. A $5 student discount or refund is available at the door with student ID.